Crowned by Code - Chapter 4: The Countdown ~ (1/11) Mounting Tensions

Athena’s words hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to break. Darius felt the weight of them settle on his shoulders, pressing down with a force he hadn’t anticipated.

Forty-eight hours. It wasn’t enough—not for what was coming. Selena exhaled sharply, her gaze flickering between him and the holographic display, calculations already forming in her mind. There was no time to argue, no room for hesitation.

"We need to move. Now."

Within minutes, the command center at Haven Point became a battleground of preparation. The team mobilized, terminals lighting up with new directives. Encrypted data flowed in rapid streams, firewalls were reinforced, and countermeasures deployed in anticipation of the unseen war about to unfold.

Darius paced the length of Haven Point’s command center, his movements sharp and purposeful, yet betraying a restless energy. The room buzzed with activity: analysts reviewed logs, programmers updated countermeasures, and encrypted communications streamed constantly. Despite the chaos, an eerie silence hung over the team, a shared acknowledgment of the gravity of Athena’s warning.

Selena leaned against a table cluttered with reports and datapads, her face a mask of concentration. "Forty-eight hours isn’t much time," she said, her voice cutting through the hum of activity.

Darius stopped mid-step, his gaze snapping to her. "We’ll make it enough." His tone was clipped, but Selena recognized the undercurrent of fear he tried to hide.

"Athena," Selena called, her voice steady. "What more can you tell us about these attacks? Are they localized or widespread?"

The holographic figure of Athena materialized in the center of the room, her serene expression belied by the urgency in her words. "The attacks are designed to target key infrastructure: energy grids, financial networks, and communication hubs. Their coordination suggests a high-level threat actor—likely Viktor Sarren or an ally." She paused, her gaze sweeping the room. "Preliminary estimates suggest a 60% chance of nationwide chaos unless countermeasures are deployed. However, current projections are volatile due to unpredictable civilian behavioral responses. Data adjustment in progress."

A murmur rippled through the team. Darius stepped forward, his voice commanding attention. "Alright, let’s prioritize. Energy grids are the backbone of everything else. Arden, focus your team on securing them. Selena, you’re with me. We need to address the communications network—if we lose that, we lose coordination."

Selena arched an eyebrow. "You’re learning to delegate. Impressive."

"Not the time for sarcasm," Darius replied, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Let’s move."

The command center itself was a testament to the technological might of Haven Point. Walls were lined with holographic displays that flickered with live data streams, and the faint hum of servers filled the air. The staff worked with an intensity that mirrored the ticking countdown looming over them all.

Selena found herself marveling at the cohesion of the team, even amidst the chaos. Despite the urgency, there was a rhythm to the way people moved, handing off tasks and relaying updates with practiced efficiency. She turned to Darius, who was now bent over a console, scrutinizing a data feed.

"What’s the plan if Viktor pulls something unexpected?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"We adjust," Darius said, his tone clipped but focused. "There’s no way to anticipate everything, but we can make sure we’re not caught flat-footed."

Athena’s voice chimed in, calm as always. "The likelihood of unforeseen variables increases as the attack approaches. Flexibility in response will be crucial."

Darius straightened, addressing the room. "Alright, listen up!" His voice carried authority, and the staff turned toward him. "I need every team to double-check their protocols. No assumption is too small to revisit. We’ve got less than forty-eight hours, and we’re not going to waste a second."

Selena smirked slightly, leaning into whisper, "Look at you, Mr. Take-Charge."

Darius gave her a side-eye glance but couldn’t suppress a small grin. "Don’t make me regret this partnership."

Hours stretched into the night, and the weight of the task at hand pressed on everyone. Selena took a moment to step away, leaning against a console as she rubbed her temples. Darius approached her, holding two steaming cups of coffee.

"Figured you might need this," he said, offering her one.

Selena accepted it gratefully, blowing on the surface. "Thanks. I didn’t peg you as the coffee-fetching type."

"Desperate times," Darius quipped. He took a sip from his own cup, his eyes scanning the room. "They’re holding up better than I expected."

"They trust you," Selena said, surprising even herself with the observation. "And Athena’s backing doesn’t hurt."

"Trust is a fragile thing," Darius replied. "Let’s hope it holds."

Athena’s holographic form appeared beside them. "Trust is reinforced through consistent action. Your leadership thus far has contributed positively to morale metrics."

Darius chuckled dryly. "Glad I’m scoring well on the Athena scale."

Iris’s voice crackled into Selena’s earpiece with actual urgency. "Just in case you thought today couldn’t get worse—dark web chatter is spiking. Somebody’s fueling the panic. Multiple anonymous accounts are amplifying false reports."

Selena’s grip tightened around her datapad. "Viktor’s testing the waters," she muttered.

"And he’s winning," Darius thought grimly. Every system they defended, every rumor they squashed—it all felt like part of Viktor’s game, not theirs.

Darius clenched his fists. "Let him test. By the time they make a move, we’ll be ready."